0 m250 m500 m750 m1,000 m1,250 m0 km50 km100 km150 km200 km250 km300 km350 km400 km12345678910111213141516171819202122High point 1,072 m
Elevation profile: from 1 m to 1,046 m over 439.4 km.
The GR51 at a glance
The GR51, nicknamed the “Balconies of the Mediterranean”, links Menton, on the Italian border, to Marseille. It crosses the Alpes-Maritimes, the Var and the Bouches-du-Rhône from east to west without hugging the shore: it runs along the first heights, from where the sea appears below, sometimes very close, sometimes far away.
Right from the start, the trail climbs to the hilltop villages in the hinterland of Menton, such as Castellar, Sainte-Agnès and Gorbio, then follows the Préalpes d’Azur above Nice, crosses the Var valley and reaches Gourdon and Auribeau-sur-Siagne. Next come the red rocks of the Estérel above the Gulf of Fréjus, the hills of the Var, the heights of the Gros Cerveau above Sanary-sur-Mer, then Cassis and the Calanques National Park, crossed on a section shared with the GR98 as far as Marseille.
The character of the GR51 lies in this constant dialogue between sea and mountains: stony paths, repeated climbs and descents, garrigue, pine woods, chapels and old villages. It is for hikers in good shape, who often tackle it in sections thanks to the coastal railway that serves the towns along the coast.
This is a shoulder-season route. The Mediterranean summer, with its heat, the scarcity of water and the closure of the hills because of fire risk, makes it a hike best kept for spring and fall.
Highlights
Almost continuous sea views from the first heights along the coast.
The hilltop villages in the hinterland of Menton, including Sainte-Agnès, billed as the highest coastal village in Europe.
The red rocks of the Estérel above the Gulf of Fréjus.
Crossing the Calanques National Park, from Cassis to the outskirts of Marseille.
Easy starts and finishes by train, so you can walk it in sections.
Practical information
Start
Menton
Menton has an SNCF station served by TER trains on the Côte d’Azur coastal line. From the town, the trail quickly climbs to the hilltop villages that overlook it.
Finish
Marseille
The GR51 ends on the Calanques side, south of Marseille; city buses take you back to the center and Saint-Charles station (TGV and TER). Cassis, which the route passes through just before the Calanques, has a TER station and is linked to Marseille by coach.
When to go
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Spring and fall offer mild temperatures and beautiful light. From June to September, the heat, the lack of water and the closure of the hills because of fire risk make a multi-day walk very difficult.
Difficulty
Challenging
No high mountains, but constant climbs and descents on stony paths, often without shade. In the Calanques, the national park describes the route as demanding.
Accommodation
1 refuge, 1 gîte, 4 unstaffed huts, and 10 B&Bs
Gîtes, B&Bs, small hotels and campgrounds line the route, but the choice is patchy in the hinterland: booking is wise. In the core zone of the Calanques National Park, bivouacking and camping are strictly forbidden; there is a campground in Cassis.
Rules to know
From June to September, access to the forested hills of the Alpes-Maritimes, the Var and the Bouches-du-Rhône is regulated by prefectoral order according to the fire risk: an area can be closed from one day to the next. In the Bouches-du-Rhône, these rules apply from June 1 to September 30 and the access map is published at around 6 pm for the following day. In the Calanques National Park, fires, cigarettes and stoves are forbidden all year round, as is bivouacking.
Water and supplies
Water is scarce: there are no fountains at all in the Calanques, where the park advises carrying at least 1.5 liters per person per half-day. In the hinterland, fill your bottles in every village. The towns on the coast, served by train, let you stock up or break off the walk.
The GR51 on the map
The 22 stages
TrekGR stage plan: each stage ends where you can sleep. Actual walking time excluding breaks (DIN 33466 standard).
No current alerts for this GR (checked on November 12, 2026). All live updates →
Our advice
From June to September, check the prefecture’s access map for the hills of the department you are crossing every evening, and have a fallback plan.
Set off early in the morning to walk during the coolest hours, even outside summer.
Wear closed shoes with good grip: the limestone paths are stony and slippery.
Take a bag to carry your trash back down, as there are no bins in the Calanques.
Use the coastal TER line to split the route into sections of a few days.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the GR51 start and finish?
It starts in Menton, on the Italian border, and ends in Marseille, after crossing the Alpes-Maritimes, the Var and the Bouches-du-Rhône from east to west.
Can you walk the GR51 in summer?
It is not recommended. From June to September, the forested hills may be closed to the public depending on the fire risk, the heat is intense and water is scarce. In the Bouches-du-Rhône, the access map is published every evening for the following day (Calanques National Park).
Is bivouacking allowed on the GR51?
It is strictly forbidden in the core zone of the Calanques National Park. Elsewhere, it is best to plan on accommodation, and never to light a fire or use a stove in the forest during periods of risk.
What is the link between the GR51 and the GR98?
In the Calanques, the two trails share the same route between Cassis and Marseille, which the national park calls the GR98-51.
Can you walk the GR51 in sections?
Yes. The coastal railway links Marseille, the Var and the Côte d’Azur as far as Menton, which makes it easy to get to the start and back between two sections.
Where can you find water on the GR51?
In the villages along the way, filling your bottles at every opportunity. In the Calanques, there is no drinking water point at all: you must carry everything.
Route: OpenStreetMap contributors. Elevation: IGN’s RGE ALTI®, one point every 50 m. Text checked on November 10, 2026.
